One of the most important things that the Washington Huskies will have to do during fall camp ahead of the 2026 season is to figure out how they’re going to replace the loss of wide receiver Denzel Boston to the NFL draft.
The second-round pick of the Cleveland Browns posted 62 catches for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns during his final year on Montlake and was an imposing presence on opposing defenses. Now, as quarterback Demond Williams Jr. searches for a new primary target, sophomore Dezmen Roebuck appears to be the most likely to step into the spotlight.
After bursting onto the scene in 2025 and putting together a Freshman All-America campaign, with 42 catches for 560 yards and 7 touchdowns, Roebuck has moved into the slot, where he could see a massive increase in targets from his chemistry with Williams.
“Not a lot of people know this, but growing up, we actually played on the same team,” Roebuck said during his freshman year. “I think it was fifth, sixth grade. We played on the same team for a couple tournaments, and I’ve always known him. We played against each other in 7-on-7 and everything, and once I got up here, we already had a good connection, even though we hadn’t played on the same team in a couple of years.”
As for his move to the slot, after showing off dependable hands, some shiftiness after the catch, and no fear over the middle of the field, Roebuck believes it’s a great fit for him.
“I feel like I definitely have more freedom to do what I need to do to get open,” Roebuck said of the switch in April. “I feel like the outside was more technical, and I definitely get a little bit more freedom—You have to be tough—If you go in with a soft mindset, you’re not going to succeed at the position.”
Wide receivers coach Kevin Cummings has echoed that sentiment about his toughness and reliability after the former three-star recruit enrolled in June 2025 and proceeded to make impressive plays every single day, which earned him a spot on the depth chart ahead of the season.
“Dez has no fear going across the middle of the field,” Cummings said during spring practice. “I think that’s huge when you’re looking at your slot. You guys saw in the Oregon game when he caught the dig across the middle and took a big hit. He’s got a lot of confidence going across the middle.”
Now, Cummings and Jedd Fisch will be looking for some other options to emerge around Roebuck, whether they be veterans like Rashid Williams and Kennesaw State transfer Christian Moss, or freshmen Jordan Clay and Trez Davis, to help open up space in the middle for the talented sophomore.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington football expects talented WR to step into starring role
